The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-04-08
Col. n. P. H.mue.t on F.o.orii....

Col II. p. Hammott on Factories.
When the citizens Of Laurens 6rst ooutcm-
plated the building ofs cotton factory in that
town, to be run by steam, they wrote to Col.
Hammett, the eminently practical and success
fui president Of two large Cotton Factories near
Greenville, for his opinion and advice. In
reply Col. Hammett wrote long aud very in
terestipg letter, from which we are only able 70
make room for the following extracts, as being
peculiarly applicable to this town, and afford
ing timelyS information and advice to our citi-
Gems at this time.
! The perfection to which steam power has
been brought and tho cheapness Of fuel, with
the prospect Of its still being cheaper when
other and new coal deposits are developed, with
railroad facilities in every direction, is con-
stantly eoonomizing steam power and reducing
its expense as compared with water. Some OF
the best and most successful cotton mills in the
country, and at tho South, are now being
driven by steam power mud that is likely TO in
| crease rs the country grows older, and that in
dustry increases with Il, rs we'll as many other
| industries that are likely TO be developed and
that can DO profitable here.
It strikes me that Laurcns is o favorable To-
cation for . cotton mill. You have there many
| of the elements necessary 10 success, such as
/ an abundance OF the most desirable kind Of
labor, good cotton market, q healthy climate,
| cheap living, good railroad facilities, &c., and
il were considering investing in . cotton mill
there, should not object seriously that Il was
to be driven by steam.
i The first thing 10 do is to raise the capital
stock, and you must get large part Of that at
/ home. II will be idle for you to attempt TO
raise it, or any considerable part Of it else
where, unless your own people go into II freely
and literally themselves. Cnpitslisls are too
L Mi md mir md viael fo nd fh.tr
| money into community TO develop and build
II up where the people living in it are afraid to,
| or will not, put their own money in it, aud this
has prevented several enterprises that prom
| ised we'll from being carried out, to my knowl-
edge inthis State. Capitalists want tho people
at homo be largely identified with any enterprise
they put their money into. They want this to
protect il aganst local prejudioss adverse legis-
lation, aud that it shall have the moral support
Of the people living around 1t.
Your capital stock being raised, the next
| thing is to decide upon tho kind Of goods to be
made, and in this would depart somewhat
from the kinds made by most Of the mills
| around, which are for tho most part standard
| to three yard sheetings. I would mako finer
| and lighter goods. The tendency OF consump-
ton Is in that direction aud you would have
less competition in introducing aud selling your
goods. II would take less commercial capital,
and reduce your interest account as we'll.
II this mill is built and Is skilfully and suo-
| cessfully managed, the advantages Of it to your
| town and county can hardly DO estimated ald
you never will appreciate il until it hos been
done and you have realized IL.
The people Of this country must, aad srsntu-
ally will, learn that they never can attain to
that high degree ofprosperi.y and Independence
OF which they arc capable by following only
one ooeupation. Agriculture Is the basis Of oil
prosperity and should be encouraged and as
sisted in every possible way hut Il can't pros
Per alone. The pursuits and industries Of every
community must DO diversified, and IL 10 done
In every prosperous country in tho wosld.
Labor is the capital of Q country aud should be
applied in all the pursuits which any particular
location, climate, and facilities favor and invite
Then each pursuit aids all the others, and they
all grow and prosper together. We pay at
Piedmont $l20, 900 year for labor and ser.
vices, all in money. Land has advanced In
that immediate vicinity Eve hundred per cent
since the mill was built. and the people for
miles around are prospering as they never did
fe as Pursuits srea I'll cs sRS
muuity.
No inland town in this country can, or ever
did, or ever will grow and prosper beyond .
limit measured BY tho local domsnd for the
| supplies required by limited area of country
around it, without divsrsi6ed industries in il,
by its own people producing such commodities
as they are prepared to make, and in whish pso-
pie arc employed ana pald money Tor their Ia
Dor. Railroads don't build up towns. They
afford facilities for the development Of such an
terprises and industries IS the location favors,
and without these industries the people will
not prosper beyond the limit have described.
Trade cannot be pushed proftsbly beyond its
legitimate limits. If . town fails to utilize the
advantages offered to II by superior railroad
and other facilities, then there is great danger
that Its legitimate trade may be carried away
to other and more enterprising communities,
who have seen and appreciated their spportu-
nifty aud realized its benefits. The industries Of
community may not all be large ones. in fact
q number ofsmall ones may be most beneficial,
but they must produce something that is the
product of labor and is sold slsewhere-so that
tho consumers pay for the material, profit and
labor. Then the mercantile interests will grow
and prosper as the necessity for ii increases.
and as the importance Of the town attracts atten-
tion and trade.
Wishing you success, 1 am yours, very
truly. II. p. HAMMErT.